Fig. 2: Increased telomerase activity in roots and shoots of space-flown A thaliana.
a TRAP performed with 12-day-old seedlings grown aboard the ISS and their corresponding ground controls (G.C.). For shoots (left) n = 3, and roots (right) n = 2. b Results of Q-TRAP assays for shoots (left) and roots (right) from 12-day-old flight seedlings and ground controls. Biological samples are distinct from those analyzed in Fig. 2a. For analysis of telomerase in shoots, biological replicates of ground controls n = 6 and flight samples n = 8. P calculated by unpaired two-tailed Welch’s t-test, ncontrol = 6, nspaceflight = 8, p = 0.005. For analysis of telomerase in roots, biological replicates of ground controls n = 6 and flight samples n = 15. P calculated by unpaired two-tailed Welch’s t-test, ncontrol = 6, nspaceflight = 15, p = 0.0002. Three technical replicates were performed for each biological replicate. Within the boxplot, the middle line represents the median, box boundaries signify 25th and 75th percentiles, and whiskers the lowest and highest values. c Relative telomerase activity measured by Q-TRAP (from Fig. 2b) plotted for ground control and space-flown roots and shoots. P calculated by unpaired two-tailed Welch’s t-test, p = 0.006 and p = 0.0012, respectively. Box and whisker plots show minimum to maximum values and all biological points. Within the boxplot, the middle line represents the median, box boundaries signify 25th and 75th percentiles, and whiskers the lowest and highest values. Source data provided as Source Data File.
